Commercial Fisheries and Mariculture Revenues from Northeast Coastal States
Total $1.047 Billion in 20022003/09/17 Northeast Fisheries and Mariculture 2002 Revenues Announced

Northeast Fisheries

2002 Revenues

Announced

Contact:

Jon Gibson, NOAA
508 495-2228

NR03.13

NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center

N E
W S

Commercial Fisheries and Mariculture Revenues
for Northeast Coastal States Total $1.047 Billion in 2002

Gloucester, MA - Ex-vessel (dockside) revenue from
commercial fisheries and farmgate revenue from mariculture (marine-based
aquaculture) operations in Northeast coastal states during 2002 totaled
$1.047 billion. These revenue values are preliminary data prepared
by the Northeast region of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA
Fisheries). The region's 10 coastal states are Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware,
Maryland, and Virginia.

In nominal dollars, the 2002 revenues were 0.7 percent lower
than those in 2001, and 5.3 percent lower than those in 2000. In real dollars
(i.e., adjusted for inflation), the 2002 revenues were 2.6 percent
lower than those in 2001, and 9.0 percent lower than those in 2000.

Changes in harvests and revenues from one year to the next stem from
several causes, including changes in the underlying populations of
sought-after fisheries species and in the effort of fishermen/mariculturists
to catch/raise various species as determined by market demand, government
regulations, etc.

Summary of Revenue (in nominal dollars) and Harvest Data

States

In 2002, Massachusetts overtook Maine for first place in ex-vessel
and farmgate revenues. Prior to 2002, Maine had held first place for
the eight previous years. Massachusetts' 2002 revenues of $297.3 million
were a 5.8 percent increase over 2001, and a 3.1 percent increase over
2000. The top five revenue-producing species landed in Massachusetts
in 2002 were sea scallop ($100.7 million), American lobster ($56.6
million), Atlantic cod ($25.0 million), haddock ($15.6 million), and
goosefish (also $15.6 million). Goosefish (also called monkfish or
angler) is not only harvested for its flesh, but also for its liver
which is considered a delicacy in the Far East export market.

In 2002, New Bedford, Massachusetts, retained its first place in ex-vessel
revenues. New Bedford's 2002 revenues of $169.0 million were a 12.3
percent increase over 2001, and a 15.5 percent increase over 2000.
The top five revenue-producing species landed in New Bedford in 2002
were sea scallop ($96.7 million), Atlantic cod ($9.4 million), winter
flounder ($9.3 million), yellowtail flounder ($9.2 million), and haddock
($9.1 million).

In 2002, 17 Northeast fishing ports had ex-vessel revenues in excess
of $10 million, thus qualifying them for "major" port status. From
2001 to 2002, 13 of these 17 major ports showed increased revenues.
In 2002, one port joined the major ports list for the first time (Harpswell,
Maine), and one port dropped off the list from 2001 (Stonington, Connecticut).

In 2002, the fishery for American lobster retained its first place
in ex-vessel revenue. The $293.3 million of revenue from the 2002 lobster
harvest was a 15.1 percent increase over 2001, but a 2.7 percent decrease
over 2000. Maine accounted for 68.9 percent, and Massachusetts for
19.3 percent, of revenues from the 2002 lobster harvest.

In 2002, the fishery for sea scallop retained its second place in
ex-vessel revenue. The $201.1 million of revenue from the 2002 sea
scallop harvest was a 16.5 percent increase over 2001, and a 24.8 percent
increase over 2000. Massachusetts accounted for 50.1 percent, and Virginia
for 28.7 percent, of revenues from the 2002 sea scallop harvest.

Of the 47 species or species groups which each provided more than
$1 million in ex-vessel or farmgate revenues during 2002, 23 showed
an increase over 2001. Among the top dozen species in 2002 revenue,
haddock (+31.7 percent), sea scallop (+16.5 percent), American lobster
(+15.1 percent), longfin inshore squid (+13.5 percent), ocean quahog
(+6.7 percent), northern quahog (+2.0 percent), and Atlantic surfclam
(+0.5 percent) showed increased revenues over 2001; Atlantic cod (-4.4
percent), Atlantic menhaden (-11.9 percent), blue crab (-13.0 percent),
goosefish (-15.3 percent), and Atlantic salmon (-70.1 percent) showed
decreased revenues. Longfin inshore squid (also called loligo) is a
major export item, especially to Mediterranean markets. Ocean quahog,
a large bivalve mollusk, is most often used in prepared seafoods such
as clam chowder. Northern quahog (also called hard clam) is a major
item in the U.S. fresh seafood market. Atlantic surfclam is a typical
ingredient in fried clam strips. Atlantic menhaden (also called pogy)
is a small, oily, nonseafood fish species which is used primarily for
production of meal, oil, and solubles, and secondarily for livestock
feed and for bait by commercial and recreational fishermen.

Two low-value species, Atlantic menhaden and Atlantic herring, dominated
the harvested poundage. More than 397 million pounds of menhaden were
harvested in 2002, a 23.5 percent decrease from 2001, and a 1.6 percent
decrease from 2000. Almost 151 million pounds of herring were harvested
in 2002, a 29.4 percent decrease from 2001, and an 8.5 percent decrease
from 2000. Herring is not only a seafood species, but also a bait species;
it is used extensively in the trap fisheries for American lobster.

Harvest and revenue data on Northeast fisheries are collected throughout
the year by both NOAA Fisheries and the various state marine fisheries
agencies in the region. Most finfish and shellfish purchasers ("dealers")
who hold a federal permit in the Northeast are required to report their
purchases from fishing vessels to NOAA Fisheries. Although the reports
from these federally permitted dealers provide the bulk of the available
harvest and revenue data, other data come from non-federally permitted
dealers and from other sources as well.

-###-

Table 1. Preliminary ex-vessela and farmgateb revenue
and harvested poundagec of commercial fisheries and
mariculture operations by state in the Northeast during 2000-2002.

State

2000

2001

2002

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

Massachusetts

288.3

187.9

281.1

242.1

297.3

243.8

Maine

354.1

262.9

309.7

269.0

296.3

212.0

Virginia

118.3

443.2

119.4

561.7

123.3

442.5

New Jersey

107.2

171.8

109.8

168.4

112.7

162.3

Rhode Island

72.5

119.3

65.5

116.0

64.7

103.7

New York

59.4

41.2

55.0

42.4

51.3

38.7

Maryland

53.9

48.9

55.6

55.5

49.0

53.2

Connecticut

31.2

19.6

31.9

19.3

27.8

16.2

New Hampshire

14.0

17.2

17.9

18.6

16.7

23.2

Delaware

6.7

6.7

7.7

7.1

6.1

5.9

Totald

1,105.5

1,318.6

1,053.7e

1,505.1e

1,046.6f

1,327.5f

a Ex-vessel revenue is based on prices paid for wild-caught
resources prior to any onshore handling, processing, or reselling.
b Farmgate revenue is based on prices paid for
mariculture-produced resources prior to transport from the
mariculture site.c Harvested poundage consists of meat weight for
bivalve (e.g., sea scallop) and univalve (e.g., conchs) mollusks,
and live weight for all other species.d Total may differ from sum of components due to
rounding error of components.e Total includes 4.9 million pounds of Atlantic
herring and Atlantic mackerel, worth $0.2 million, which were
not landed in any state, but transferred to international buyers
at sea.f Total includes: 1) 24.7 million pounds of Atlantic
herring and Atlantic mackerel, worth $1.2 million, which were
not landed in any state, but transferred to international buyers
at sea; and 2) 1.5 million pounds of Atlantic herring, worth
$0.1 million, which were landed in Canada.

Table 2. Preliminary ex-vessela revenue
and harvested poundageb of commercial fisheries by major
portc in the Northeast during 2000-2002.

Port

2000

2001

2002

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

New Bedford, MA

146.3

89.0

150.5

106.9

169.0

108.9

Gloucester, MA

30.0

40.1

29.4

75.3

41.2

78.5

Portland, ME

45.4

62.8

33.7

86.4

36.3

60.7

Cape May/Wildwood, NJ

28.7

58.9

33.0

66.4

35.3

60.2

Newport News, VA

26.5

8.5

29.7

11.3

34.4

11.6

Pt. Judith, RI

41.4

59.3

33.6

48.5

31.4

42.9

Atlantic City, NJ

26.1

50.4

25.2

45.5

22.4

41.2

Stonington, ME

18.0

15.9

13.3

22.3

21.7

14.7

Vinalhaven, ME

12.4

8.4

19.0

12.2

21.3

10.8

Pt. Pleasant, NJ

17.8

38.2

18.7

32.1

19.7

34.7

Hampton, VA

11.0

6.5

12.3

8.2

16.4

9.4

Jonesport, ME

9.1

3.2

10.5

4.1

16.1

6.8

Chatham/Provincetown, MA

13.6

17.6

15.9

16.6

15.2

15.4

Long Beach/Barnegat Light, NJ

14.6

9.1

14.4

10.4

14.6

8.8

Seaford, VA

10.5

2.3

10.3

3.1

12.5

3.6

Montauk, NY

12.7

11.7

13.1

14.3

11.2

11.4

Harpswell, ME

<0.1

0.1

3.1

2.4

10.1

3.1

a Ex-vessel revenue is based on prices paid for wild-caught
resources prior to any onshore handling, processing, or reselling.b Harvested poundage consists of meat weight for
bivalve (e.g., sea scallop) and univalve (e.g., conchs) mollusks,
and live weight for all other species.c Major ports arbitrarily defined as those yielding
$10 million or more in ex-vessel revenue for 2002.

Table 3. Preliminary ex-vessela revenue
and harvested poundageb of commercial fisheries for
American lobster by state in the Northeast during 2000-2002.

State

2000

2001

2002

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

Maine

187.7

57.2

161.1

50.7

202.1

60.7

Massachusetts

67.5

14.6

54.5

13.3

56.7

12.9

Rhode Island

19.7

4.9

15.6

3.7

15.9

3.8

New Hampshire

4.9

1.2

8.1

2.0

8.2

2.0

New York

12.0

3.0

7.4

2.1

5.1

1.4

Connecticut

5.5

1.4

5.9

1.4

4.2

1.1

New Jersey

3.7

0.9

2.1

0.5

1.1

0.3

Maryland

0.3

0.1

0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

Virginia

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

Delaware

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

Totalc

301.3

83.2

254.8

73.7

293.3

82.3

a Ex-vessel revenue is based on prices paid for wild-caught
resources prior to any onshore handling, processing, or reselling.b Harvested poundage consists of live weight.c Total may differ from sum of components due to
rounding error of components.

Table 4. Preliminary ex-vessela revenue
and harvested poundageb of commercial fisheries for
sea scallop by state in the Northeast during 2000-2002.

State

2000

2001

2002

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

Massachusetts

85.3

16.2

88.5

22.9

100.7

25.3

Virginia

41.7

9.2

44.5

12.7

57.7

16.2

New Jersey

24.1

4.9

30.0

8.2

33.3

8.6

Connecticut

4.0

0.8

6.3

1.7

6.4

1.6

Maine

3.9

0.7

1.2

0.2

2.0

0.3

New Hampshire

0.5

<0.1

0.7

0.2

0.7

0.2

Maryland

0.1

<0.1

0.1

<0.1

0.1

<0.1

New York

0.2

0.1

0.7

0.3

0.1

<0.1

Rhode Island

1.4

0.2

0.7

0.2

0.1

<0.1

Delaware

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Totalc

161.2

32.2

172.6

46.3

201.1

52.3

a Ex-vessel revenue is based on prices paid for wild-caught
resources prior to any onshore handling, processing, or reselling.b Harvested poundage consists of meat weight.c Total may differ from sum of components due to
rounding error of components.

Table 5. Preliminary ex-vessela and farmgateb revenue
and harvested poundagec of commercial fisheries and
mariculture operations for major speciesd in the Northeast
during 2000-2002. (Names in parentheses are unofficial but locally
common names for the same species.)

Species

2000

2001

2002

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

$(millions)

Lb.(millions)

American lobster

301.3

83.2

254.8

73.7

293.3

82.3

Sea scallop

161.2

32.2

172.6

46.3

201.1

52.3

Blue crab

65.6

60.9

70.9

61.0

61.7

63.1

Northern quahog (hardshell clam)

45.1

10.0

39.7

8.5

40.5

10.0

Atlantic surfclam

38.0

68.5

39.6

68.9

39.8

72.0

Goosefish (monkfish, angler)

52.7

45.1

43.9

51.2

37.2

50.2

Atlantic cod

26.4

25.1

32.1

33.2

30.7

28.9

Ocean quahog

17.0

32.8

23.9

38.0

25.5

40.0

Atlantic menhaden (pogy)

30.0

403.7

27.8

519.4

24.5

397.1

Longfin inshore squid (Loligo)

24.1

37.4

20.7

31.3

23.5

36.8

Haddock

11.6

8.8

14.5

12.8

19.1

16.7

Atlantic salmone

78.9

36.0

58.2

29.1

16.9

15.0

Softshell (softshell clam)

11.6

2.7

19.0

3.5

16.6

2.9

Summer flounder (fluke)

14.1

7.9

13.3

8.2

15.5

10.4

Bluefin tuna

17.4

2.3

17.2

2.6

14.4

2.4

Winter flounder (blackback, lemon sole)

12.7

12.8

13.8

15.3

14.0

13.0

Yellowtail flounder

15.4

15.3

15.3

16.1

13.3

11.8

Eastern oyster

15.5

3.6

12.6

2.7

12.9

2.0

Striped bass

11.8

6.5

10.8

5.9

10.2

5.6

Atlantic herring

10.1

164.8

12.9

213.6

9.8

150.8

American plaice (dab)

9.5

9.3

9.5

9.8

8.6

7.5

Witch flounder (gray sole)

7.0

5.4

7.9

6.7

8.6

7.0

Sea wormsf

2.1

0.4

9.3

1.4

8.0

1.1

Silver hake (whiting)

11.4

26.8

13.3

28.6

7.4

17.6

Pollock

7.0

8.9

6.2

9.1

6.2

7.9

Atlantic mackerel

2.0

12.4

2.2

27.2

6.2

58.6

Green sea urchin

18.2

13.2

12.7

9.9

6.0

5.3

Black sea bass

4.4

2.5

4.0

2.6

5.6

3.3

Atlantic croaker

6.8

16.5

4.2

16.6

4.9

15.8

Scup (porgy)

3.3

2.7

3.4

4.1

4.8

7.3

White hake

3.8

6.6

3.9

7.7

4.6

7.2

Swordfish

6.1

2.4

4.5

1.8

4.4

2.0

Red deepsea crab

5.0

6.9

8.1

8.8

4.0

4.8

Blue mussel

1.0

2.8

2.1

3.1

4.0

4.7

Skatesf

3.7

27.1

3.4

28.9

3.5

28.7

Tilefishesf

2.4

1.1

3.3

1.9

3.5

1.9

Weakfish (gray sea trout, squeteague)

2.6

3.5

2.0

3.0

2.1

2.9

Bluefish

1.6

4.5

1.7

4.5

1.7

4.5

Jonah crab

1.5

2.5

1.7

2.7

1.5

2.6

Bigeye tuna

2.1

0.6

2.3

0.7

1.5

0.5

Catfishesf

0.9

3.0

1.5

3.5

1.5

3.2

Northern shortfin squid (Illex)

3.7

19.8

1.9

8.8

1.4

6.0

Conchsf

2.9

1.4

2.2

1.2

1.4

0.8

Spot

2.4

4.0

1.5

3.6

1.3

3.2

Channeled whelk

0.4

0.2

1.6

0.6

1.3

0.5

Hagfish

1.9

6.8

0.4

1.5

1.1

3.0

Northern shrimp (Pandalus)

4.2

5.3

2.4

2.7

1.0

1.0

a Ex-vessel revenue is based on prices paid for wild-caught
resources prior to any onshore handling, processing, or reselling.b Farmgate revenue is based on prices paid for
mariculture-produced resources prior to transport from the
mariculture site.c Harvested poundage consists of meat weight for
bivalve (e.g., sea scallop) and univalve (e.g., conchs) mollusks,
and live weight for all other species.d Major species arbitrarily defined as those yielding
$1 million or more in ex-vessel or farmgate revenue for 2002.e Entire harvest from mariculture operations.f Category comprises several species.

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